Ford Explorer wheel bearings go loose often?

I have a 92 ford Explorer and it seems as though the front end wheel
bearings keep going loose. 4wd Explorer, 100K miles. It seems to shudder
at about 35mph to 45mph. I've had the bearings tightened twice in two

No its not normal, it is probably something else. Tires, front end,
driveshaft.....Do you feel it in the steering wheel? Is it worse when you
hit the brakes? It has done this 2 times before and tightening the wheel
bearings fixed it?

Well, yes I can certainly feel the vibrations in the steering wheel. the
vibes start at about 25 mph and stop around 45mph, they are most noticed
when accelerating. The engine runs very smooth in neutral at various rpm
speeds, so I'm counting out the engine.
I had the bearings replaced in July and then tightened in early Oct. About
two weeks after the Oct tightening event the vibes came back...
I went and bought new bearings and lifted the truck. The front wheels are
tight, they rotate freely but the horizontal movement (passenger side to
driver side) when pushing on the tires is gone (bearings are still tight).
I did notice a lateralmovement when pushing on the front of the front tire,
it the rear of the tire seemed to move inboard and outboard... like a
linkage or something... not sure & I didn't feel too comfortable sticking
around too long under the jacked up truck.. :)
Could something in the trasmsission cause it? (I'm highly doubtful) how
about the steering system/linkages?
Jo

I would check the radial arm bushings just to be sure. I recently got
a 1990 Bronco II and discovered that the radial arm bushings were too
far gone when I had it inspected. At least on the Bronco II and F-150
You can see the bushings without even lifting the vehicle. They are
the rubber piece in between the arm (frame) pointing backwards from
the wheel and the next part of the frame.
-D

--
A Microsoft Certified System Engineer is to information technology as a
McDonalds Certified Food Specialist is to the culinary arts.

Well, in July I had the bearings replaced, the tires balanced & rotated, the
radius arm bushings replaced, the fan clucth replaced, leaks plugged in the
radiator & power steering.
Would the radius arm bushings go out that quickly? Could leaking power
steering cause the steering to go?
Could there be a transmission problem, which would cause the
noise/viberations at only certain speeds?
Hmmm
Jo
wrote:

have you checked the wheel balancing? normally vibrations in unbalanced
wheels only occur at higher speeds but its possible if you have exhausted
other options...try swapping wheels front to rear if they are the same size
and re-check...

Well, I heard the same thing from another person, and will have the truck in
soon for the oil change. I'll have them either balance the front tires, or
at least rotate them front to back... and see if it changes anything...
Thanks!
Jo

Having read the other post, I suspect you may have a problem
with the radius arm bushings. The early explorers had a
problem with the right side deteriorating because of it
being too close the converter. There were bulletins out on
this problem. Do not recall exact fix for problem.

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